Tasmanian forest peace deal done

Updated
November 22, 2012 14:36:00

Old enemies from the environmental movement and timber industry have agreed on a deal to protect more than half a million hectares of native forest. The industry will be compensated for downsizing in $276 million package from the state and federal governments.

ELEANOR HALL: To Tasmania now where a forest deal has finally been done.

After decades of conflict and almost three years of negotiations, environmentalists and the timber industry signed the agreement this morning.

It will insure that more than half a million hectares of native forest will be protected and that the timber industry will receive compensation.

In Hobart, Felicity Ogilvie reports.

FELICITY OGILVIE: After 30 years of fighting followed by three years of negotiating, old enemies have finally found common ground.

A peace deal has been signed and Terry Edwards from the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania hopes it'll end the bitter conflict.

TERRY EDWARDS: It is time to heal the divisions and try and have an industry that is supported by the people of Tasmania, supported by environment groups and that can market its products international, local and international markets with confidence and without being under siege from a range of different protest groups.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Negotiators have worked well into the early hours of the morning this week nutting out the final details of $276 million deal. It includes compensation payments for industry for downsizing as well as the protection of more than half million hectares of native forest.

Vica Bayley from the Wilderness Society says areas to be protected include disputed forests in the southern forests like the Styx, the Weld and the Florentine.

VICA BAYLEY: These are all the areas that people have campaigned for, rallied for, written letters for and wanted to see protected for many, many decades so it is a ground breaking day. We are, we are comfortable that this is a comprehensive conservation outcome for Tasmania.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Under the deal 395,000 hectares of native forest will be immediately protected while another 108,000 hectares will be set aside by March 2015.

Terry Edwards says jobs will be lost as the industry cuts down fewer trees.

TERRY EDWARDS: And it is up to governments now to cushion the effect of those job losses in the community and to ensure that employees who lose their job or businesses that close are properly looked after as a result of the implementation of this agreement.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The environmentalists are also looking to the government to create new reserves.

VICA BAYLEY: The agreement has embedded in it that an extension to the existing world heritage area should be progressed by the Federal Government.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Now the deal is done, the State Government will move to enshrine the agreement in legislation.

The Premier, Lara Giddings, has told the Lower House it's a significant day.

LARA GIDDINGS: I, Mr Speaker, commend each and every one of those people who have been part of this process and I understand that this is a difficult day for everybody but it is a significant day and an important day.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The Government and the Greens have the numbers to get the forest peace deal through the Lower House straight away.

But the big unknown is what Tasmania's Upper House might do. It's full of independents who could possibly vote down the peace deal.

But the president of the Upper House, Sue Smith, says it's unlikely the vote will happen today.

SUE SMITH: Tony Burke said the Federal Government would pull the money at the end of December if there was not agreement. Surely if there is agreement of all parties around the table, an agreement through a House of Assembly today, that Mr Burke would agree to moving that timeline on.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Today is the last day that the Upper House is scheduled to sit this year.